Mongoose V Vintage SE ?

[mpf9ret]

Now the Mongoose has landed, in UK. I wondered apart from looks,and the fact that it is S/S,
it compares with the the 1914/1924, Streamline etc.in terms of performance.

Reading SOTD,blade life seems good,but how does the shave compare with the oldies.
Just had a lovely shave on 1914 [becoming my favourite , MMOC to try yet].

 

[Ferrum]

Now the Mongoose has landed, in UK. I wondered apart from looks,and the fact that it is S/S,
it compares with the the 1914/1924, Streamline etc.in terms of performance.

Reading SOTD,blade life seems good,but how does the shave compare with the oldies.
Just had a lovely shave on 1914 [becoming my favourite , MMOC to try yet].

From my brief (and still learning) experience thus far with the Mongoose, it outperforms the various Ever Ready and other old SEs that I have, with the sole exception of my Valets.

The reason to me seems fairly obvious. It's the blades!

I use the Personna SS Gem type blades in the old models, which, whilst they do a good job, are harsh for the first shave and, to me, unacceptably blunt by about the fourth.

For the Valets, I use the expensive but typically efficient Feather FHS-5 blades, and these are far superior to the Personnas for sharpness, comfort and longevity. These razors therefore performed as well as the Mongoose now does.

I haven't used my Mongoose long enough to be able to comment on their longevity, but the Feather Pro blade I'm using produces a first-class 2-pass shave without trouble. It's smooth and sharp, straight out of the dispenser.

Sorting out the right angle for the Mongoose has been the most important thing. I started using it in the Ever Ready "Natural Angle" style, which didn't work well at all but I'm getting there.

I should also say that I'm primarily a DE user nowadays, and the Mongoose has a lot of the characteristics of a nice heavy stainless DE, and thus feels immediately natural to me in the hand.

 

[Arun]

I use the Mongoose with a Feather Pro for the first two passes and then touch up with a 12/14/Streamline etc. I find the Gems easier to manoeuvre for finishing. This is the best combination for me.

 

[pjgh]

I'm loathed to try one ... I really did not like the shaves from Feather Artist Club and those long Feather blades. I don't much like injectors, either, perhaps it's the narrow blades?

I absolutely LOVE the shaves from pretty much anything from the GEM & Ever Ready stable, Contour included.

Performance? Well, I rather fancied that the Feather shaves were too close. If that translates as better performance, well, so be it. For me, it's a recipe for irritation and ingrowers.

Looks? Give me a lather catcher any time The 'goose does not scream out "BUY ME!!! BUY ME!!!" to me, but the BornSharp does - now what is a good looker!

Cost? Bang for your buck, the 1912 pips everything. Heck, even the Streamline is cheap compared!

While you might be detecting that I'm not a fan ... and yes, I have not used a 'goose, I would be interested to try ... perhaps once.

 

[Doggycam]

Used my Goose for 4 shaves and am impressed.
I would place it in between a 1912 and the Streamline for efficiency and closeness of shave.

Its a great every day razor, that gives no irritation and a comfortable, easy DFS. The wider blade gives a faster shave too.

The streamline is my weekend razor that gives an effortless BBS shave, but if I used it everyday, I'd get a bit of irritation on my neck, and the occasional ingrown hair.

If you can afford it, get a Goose. If not buy a 1912

 

[mpf9ret]

Now the Mongoose has landed, in UK. I wondered apart from looks,and the fact that it is S/S,
it compares with the the 1914/1924, Streamline etc.in terms of performance.

Reading SOTD,blade life seems good,but how does the shave compare with the oldies.
Just had a lovely shave on 1914 [becoming my favourite , MMOC to try yet].

From my brief (and still learning) experience thus far with the Mongoose, it outperforms the various Ever Ready and other old SEs that I have, with the sole exception of my Valets.

The reason to me seems fairly obvious. It's the blades!

I use the Personna SS Gem type blades in the old models, which, whilst they do a good job, are harsh for the first shave and, to me, unacceptably blunt by about the fourth.

For the Valets, I use the expensive but typically efficient Feather FHS-5 blades, and these are far superior to the Personnas for sharpness, comfort and longevity. These razors therefore performed as well as the Mongoose now does.

I haven't used my Mongoose long enough to be able to comment on their longevity, but the Feather Pro blade I'm using produces a first-class 2-pass shave without trouble. It's smooth and sharp, straight out of the dispenser.

Sorting out the right angle for the Mongoose has been the most important thing. I started using it in the Ever Ready "Natural Angle" style, which didn't work well at all but I'm getting there.

I should also say that I'm primarily a DE user nowadays, and the Mongoose has a lot of the characteristics of a nice heavy stainless DE, and thus feels immediately natural to me in the hand.

Must get some blades to Test Valet VC 2, which i have not used yet.Seems maybe a lot
of DE shavers have got the Mongoose.